Foldable prayer rail



Jan. 2, 1951 Filed Oct. 12. 1946 A. E. LANDAU FOLDABLE PRAYER RAIL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ARGO E. LANDAU .Br HTTQKA/Er 1951 A. E. LANDAU 2,536,449

FOLDABLE PRAYER RAIL Filed 001;. 12, 1946 2 Sheets$heet 2 ARGO E. LANDAU Patented Jan. 2, 1951 FOLDABLE PRAYER RAIL Argo E. Landau, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Royal Bond, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application October 12, 1946, Serial No. 702,875

6 Claims.

This invention relates to prayer rails and, more particularly, to certain new and useful improvements in portable kneeling rails.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a portable prayer rail of simple, compact and economical construction which is capable of being folded into a compact form for packaging, storage, or for being carried from place to place, as the case may be.

It is also an object hereof to improve on the construction and arrangement of prayer rails generally and to provide such an arrangement of parts therefor that the folding or erecting operation can be effected quickly and conveniently in a single manually controlled operation.

Another object of this invention may be found in the character and operating nature of the mechanism herein preferred for accomplishing the simultaneous folding or erecting operation, and in the arrangement of elements to afford a positive, but easily releasable, retention of the prayer rails in erected condition.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets):

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portable prayer rail constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the prayer rail, with the arm rail portion broken away;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the prayer rail, with a frame housing end cover removed to show the important details of the folding mechanism therefor;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the end assembly taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 5-5, 6--6, l'|, and 8- 8, respectively, of Figure 3;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 4; and

Figures 10 and 11 are views in end elevation of the assembly with the cover removed and respec- I supporting member is such as to permit a smooth and rapid movement from the fully opened position shown in Fi ure 3 to the compact folded position shown in Figure 11.

The base frame A of the prayer rail includes a pair of similar housings l and 2, each integrally formed or cast to provide an inner side wall 3, front and rear en walls and 5, a top wall 5. An outer side wall, in the nature of a removable cover 7, is secured to the respective walls t, 5, and t in any desired manner. Thus, each end housing defines an interior space which is open along the bottom side and is readily adapted to receive and enclose foldable parts of the assembly and the folding mechanism later to be noted. These end housings i and 2 are interconnected by means of a pair of tie-rods 8 (Figures 3 and 4), one being secured in the thickened portion of the rear end wall 4 thereof and the other being secured in the inner side wall 3 inwardly of the front end wall 5.

Each housing is suitably supported on a pair of legs 9 and Hi, which are each pivotally connected with the respective housings by means of pin elements I! and I2, respectively supported at one end in the inner wall 3 and extending across the interior space for opposite end support in a suitable recess formed in the removable cover I (Figure 4). Moreover, the legs 9, I9, are respectively provided with longitudinal recesses l3, M. It will be understood that the view of Figures 3 and lwith respect to the housing I and its supporting legs 9, Ill, may be taken as exemplary of the construction and arrangement desired for the housing 2. When erect, the leg 9 will abut the tapped boss I5 formed on the wall 5 and the leg IE] will abut a similar tapped boss I6 on wall 4. These bosses I 5 and i6 act as stop means for determining proper leg position, but are otherwise similar to others thereof utilized in the securement of the removable cover I.

The arm rail B is positioned between the housings I and 2 adjacent the rear ends thereof (Figure 1) above the location of the tie-rod B joining the housings 2, and may be formed of a skeleton framework (not shown) and suitably covered or upholstered. Its pivoted assembly is effected by the provision of a, air of hinge plates 11, each rigidly secured to the arm rail B and extending inwardly and down for pivotal support on the inner projecting end of the adjacent pivot element l I of the leg 9. When erect, the bottom edge surface 18 of the arm rail 13 abuts a stop projection I9 formed on the housing (Figure 6) to determine its position in an erect and substantially vertical plane.

As may be seen in Figures 4 and 10, for example, the kneeling board C is located between the housings I and 2 for pivotal movement about a pair of hinge elements 2! (Figure 8). Each hinge element is formed with an integral hinge pin 2I receivable in the housing wall 3 to permit movement of the board C between an inwardly directed position and a position extending from the front of the prayer rail, as in Figure 11. The inwardly directed and also the extended position of the member C is determined by a pair of stop blocks 22, one thereof being secured to the inner wall 3 of each housing I and 2. Inspection of Figures 3 and 11 will clearly show the relative location of stop block 22 on housing I for determining the positions of the kneeling board C.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, the mechanism located in the end housing I for permitting folding or erecting movement of the arm rail 13, kneeling board C, and legs 9 and If! includes a motion-transmitting element or rockerplate 25 pivotally monuted on side wall 3. by a pin 26. The rocker-plate 25 is cut away along one side face, as at 21, to receive an actuator link 28, which is pivotally connected thereto by a pin 29. The opposite end of the link 28 extends rearwardly for connection with a pivot pin 3') fixed in the hinge plate I! of the arm rail B. The pin 30 extends into the interior of the housing I through an arcuate slot 3| formed in the side wall 3 thereof. At an intermediate zone along the, length of the link 28, a boss 32 is provided for mounting of a pin 33 to which one end of a second link 34 is pivotally connected. The link 34 is pivotally connected at its rearward end within the notch I3 of the leg 9, as by a pin 35 fixed therein.

The rocker-plate 25 is further formed with a grooved recess or slot 36 on the opposite side from the notch 21 such that a third link 31 may have a pivotal connection therein as provided by a pin 38. The opposite or forward end of the link 31 is pivotally connected to the leg III and is positioned within the notch I4 thereof on pivot pin 39. It will be noted in the present assembly of links 28 and 31 with the rocker-plate 25 that the link pivot pins 29 and 38 are located on diametrically opposite sides relative to the pivot 21. However, a different disposition of the pins 21, 29, and 38 may be employed in order to carry out the objects in view.

A further feature hereof resides in the provision of holding or securing means for the element 25 when the latter is moved into its unfolded po-' sition, as seen in Figure 3. The securing means includes a stop element or block at formed upon the inner faces of the rocker-plate 25 and pro-' jecting through an arcuate slot M in the housing side wall 3 (Figure 7) This stop block 40 is suitably notched at 42 to receive and engage one end of a detent element 43 carried on the under side of the kneeling board C by means of a bracket 44 in which a detent pivot pin 45 is rockably mounted. The opposite end of the detent element43 is engaged by a resilient element 46 of spring leaf type, which is secured to the member in the manner shown in Figure 9. A beveled surface 4? on detent 43 determines the open or released setting thereof, as indicated in Figure 10.

In operation, the foregoing link-mechanism will assume the position shown in Figure 3 when the arm rail B is erect or unfolded and the legs 8 and to are extended downwardly to support the base frame A. It will, of course, be understood that the mechanism shown for the end housing I will be duplicated in the housing 2, so that the legs 3 and It! for the latter housing may be extended or folded in like manner. In this unfolded position, the board C can be rotated to its inward position between the respective end housings I and 2 for support upon the stop blocks 22, whereupon the detent element 43 will be engaged, at its free end, in the recess 42 of the stop block 40 (Figure 9) to hold the rocker-plate 25 against rotation and thus lock the link-mechanism in place. Only one detent 43 and co-operating block 40 has been illustrated, but a pair of such means may be utilized if necessary or desirable to insure a more rigid securement of the arm rail and legs when unfolded.

When folding the prayer rail, the kneeling board C is first pivoted to its extended position (Figures 10 and 11), thus disengaging the detent from block 43 and freeing the mechanism for operation. Thereafter, the arm rail 13 may be pivoted forwardly and down to overlie the board C, its support being had on block 22. During pivoting movement of the rail 13, the actuator link 28 causes clockwise rotation of the rockerplate 25 and simultaneous retraction of the links 34 and 31 to effect folding movement of the legs 9 and I3 into the housing I. A similar action occurs for the mechan sm (not shown) in housing 2. In this manner, the kneeling rail may be easily folded such that the arm rail B is nested between the end housings I and 2 in substantial lapped relation with the kneeling board C and the pairs of legs 9 and I El are simultaneous lyfolded into the respective housings when the operating links therefor assume positions within the leg notches for minimizing the space required to house the same.

The foregoing detailed description of a preferred kneeling rail construction and an operative foldable mechanism therefor will serve to illustrate the principal features of the invention in accordance with the stated objects. However, it should be understood that modifications and variants of construction, assembly and operation may come to mind, and it is the aim to include all such modifications andvariants within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A prayer rail comprising a base frame having spaced end housings, an arm rail mounted between said end housings for movement between an erect position and a folded position, a kneeling board mounted between said end housings and spaced from said arm rail for movementbetween inward and extended positions relative to said housings, link means disposed within the end housings, a motion transmitting element mounted pivotally within one of said housings and operably connected by the link means with said arm rail for movement therewith, and means on said board arranged releasably to engage with said element for retaining said board and arm rail respectively in said inward and erect positions. v

2, A prayer rail comprising a baseframe having spaced end housings; a pair of supporting legs for each housing arranged for pivotal folding movement into and out of said housing, an arm rail supported on and pivotally movable relative to said base frame between an erect position and a folded position between said end housings, a kneeling board carried between said end housings for movement between an inward and an extended position relative thereto, and means in each end housing constructed and operably arranged for effecting simultaneous folding movement of all said legs into and out of said housings with movement of said arm rail between its folded and erect positions respectively.

3. A prayer rail comprising a base frame having spaced end housings, a pair of supporting legs for each housing pivotally connected thereto for movement into and out of a position within the housings, an arm rail operably carried on said base frame for movement between an erect position and a position lying between the end housings of said base frame, a kneeling member carried on and movable between an inward and an extended position relative to said base frame, and means in each housing for effecting simultaneous movement of said respective pairs of legs into and out of said housings and concurrent movement of said arm rail between its said positions respectively, movement of said arm rail into its said second mentioned position being preceded by movement of said kneeling member to its extended position whereby the arm rail may assume its position lying between the base frame end housings for lapping relation with the kneeling member.

4. A prayer rail comprising a base frame having spaced end housings, front and rear legs pivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting and folded positions relative to said base frame, an arm rail pivotally carried on said base frame for movement between erect and folded positions relative to said base frame, a rocker-plate operably carried in each housing, linkage mechanism in each housing for connecting the rocker-plate with the arm rail and. the respective front and rear legs, each of said rocker-plates serving to operate the respective linkage mechanisms for causing simultaneous movement of said legs and arm rail between said positions, a kneeling board operably carried on said base frame for movement between an inward and an extended position relative to said base frame, and means on said board for engaging at least one of said rocker-plates, when said board is in its inward position and said arm rail is in erect position, to prevent folding movement of said arm rail and legs.

5. In a prayer rail of the character described. a pair of housings arranged in spaced and interconnected relation, an arm rail, a kneeling member, said rail and kneeling member each being independently pivotally mounted on said housings in spaced relation for movement between an unfolded position and a folded position in which said rail overlaps said member, pivotally mounted supporting legs for said housings: adapted for folding movement into the respective housings, link mechanism operably positioned in each housing and interconnecting the legs therefor and an adjacent part of said arm rail, folding movement of said arm rail being effective to cause fold ng movement of said legs, and means on said kneeling member for locking the link mechanism to prevent operation thereof while said kneeling member is unfolded.

6. In a prayer rail, the combination of a base frame having supporting legs pivotally mounted therein for movement between extended and folded positions within the base frame, link elements pivoted to each leg, motion transmitting elements operably interconnecting pairs of said link elements for foldably associating said legs in pairs, each pair being independent with respect to the other, an arm rail pivotally carried on said base frame and movable between an erect unfolded position and a folded position into said base frame, a pair of actuator links operably interconnecting said arm rail and one of said motion transmitting elements, thereby transmit-- ting movement of said arm rail through said motion elements of said pairs of legs to effect extending or folding movement of said legs upon corresponding unfolding or folding movement of said arm rail, and a kneeling member pivotally carried on said base frame for movement between an unfolded position spaced from the arm rail to a folded position in which said arm rail is in substantial superposed adjacence.

ARGO E. LANlDAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,890,815 Kazowski Dec. 13, 1932 1,922,613 Bebry Aug. 15, 1933 1,981,387 Kovats Nov. 20, 1934 2,041,196 Liska May 19, 1936 2,101,259 Landau Dec. "7, 1937 2,117,430 Liska May 17, 1938 2,225,000 Rothbart Dec. 17, 1940 

